From Rockstar’s Khatana to Dr Arora: Kumud Mishra-Imtiaz Ali’s journey of pain and healing continues

Kumud Mishra came a long way from just another supporting character to the lead actor.

Kumud Mishra - Rockstar, Dr Arora.

Kumud Mishra became a name to remember when he appeared as Khatana bhai in Rockstar. This man, who ran the college canteen, gave our rockstar Jordan/JJ (Ranbir Kapoor) a reason to breathe in Imtiaz Ali’s film, Rockstar. He guided the student towards a path of pain and eventually, healing. All of it through the magic of music. Many years later, Imtiaz and Kumud’s journey with pain and healing continues, this time through medicine.

The trailer of Dr. Arora -Gupt Rog Visheshagya released some time back. Our side actor, who might as well have been the lead actor, considering he pushed Jordan towards music, is now heading the Sony LIV show as Dr. Arora. If that isn’t success, we don’t know what is.

11 years after Rockstar’s release, Kumud Mishra is no longer in a cameo appearance and still leaves the same amount of impact, right from the trailer itself. As Dr. Arora, our actor treats patients with colourful traits. He lures them to talk about erectile dysfunction and treats them. These are the macho men who cannot even accept that they are suffering and in pain.

Imtiaz had recently touched upon the topic with his series, She. The first season of the show saw Bhumika aka Bhumi (Aaditi Pohankar) realize that she never was the problem in her marriage. It was the man who could not pleasure her because he was erectile dysfunction. While that scene played a major role in how Bhumi’s life transformed, it is beautifully brushed under the carpet, only to reflect in how the society failed a woman, that too a lady constable, Bhumi. This time though, Imtiaz has explored the topic fully with Dr. Arora.

While not much can be spoken about the series since it is yet to release, the show definitely seems to highlight Kumud Mishra in a way like never before. Imtiaz Ali presents this actor, who was almost always cast in a supporting role, in the lead and one that promises to be memorable.

Khatana remained etched onto people’s minds since 2011. Can Imtiaz and Kumud create the same magic once again? That remains to be seen.

Dr. Arora, which marks Imtiaz and Kumud’s second collaboration, will release on Sony LIV on July 22. The show is helmed by Sajid Ali of Laila Majnu (Avinash Tiwary-Tripti Dimri’s film) fame along with Archit Kumar.

Share